Billy Joel covers Procol Harum's 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' in tribute to Gary Brooker

28 February 2022, 12:37 | Updated: 22 September 2023, 10:37

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Procol Harum's Gary Brooker died earlier this month at the age of 76.

Billy Joel paid has paid tribute to Procol Harum singer-songwriter Gary Brooker by playing his most famous song 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' in concert.

Brooker died last week at the age of 76, prompting a wave of tributes from fans and contemporaries.

• Procol Harum singer Gary Brooker dies, aged 76
• 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' by Procol Harum: The making of the classical rock masterpiece

A Whiter Shade of Pale-Billy Joel tribute to Procol Harum 2/26/2022

Joel celebrated the life and music of Brooker during his Allegiant Stadium show in Las Vegas on Saturday night (February 26) with a performance of Procol Harum's 10 million selling debut single.

His cover followed a rendition of his own song 'Only The Good Die Young'.

The full Billy Joel setlist was as follows:

1. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
2. Pressure
3. The Entertainer
4. Vienna
5. Don't Ask Me Why
6. Zanzibar
7. Allentown
8. Just the Way You Are
9. Say Goodbye to Hollywood
10. The Longest Time
11. New York State of Mind
12. The Downeaster Alexa
13. She's Always a Woman
14. My Life
15. Only the Good Die Young
16. A Whiter Shade of Pale
17. Sometimes a Fantasy
18. The River of Dreams (with 'Tush' by ZZ Top interlude)
19. Nessun dorma
20. Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
21. Piano Man
    Encore:
22. We Didn't Start the Fire
23. Uptown Girl
24. It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
25. Big Shot
26. You May Be Right (with 'Rock & Roll' by Led Zeppelin interlude)

Joel had previously expressed his sorrow at Brooker's death in a post on Twitter.

"Sorry to hear about the passing of Gary Brooker. Rest in Peace," Joel said.

It's not the first time Joel has played 'A Whiter Shade of Pale.

The singer-songwriter covered it during live shows several times over the years, including at a SiriusXM Town Hall show with Howard Stern in 2014.